Chapter 35: Introduction
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 35: Introduction
Han Seol-bi of the Cold Blood Han family turned her sparkling eyes toward Hyeok Ryeon-yeom.
He was a man she had never seen before.
‘The Little Snow Unit… isn’t that the unit protecting my sister?’
Was the captain of that unit always this handsome?
What struck her as odd was that he wasn't wearing the typical blue martial robes of the palace, but rather black robes with a reddish tint.
Just as she was about to open her mouth to comment on how he looked like someone from the Demonic Cult—
“Seol-bi.”
The Young Palace Lord, Seol Yerin, called out to her.
“Oh my, that melodious voice! Do you have any idea how much I’ve missed you?”
“I know you’re happy to see me after so long, but people are watching.”
Yerin spoke informally.
Hyeok Ryeon-yeom noted that this was the first time he had seen Seol Yerin speak so casually to someone. The two seemed incredibly close. Given the nature of the Extreme Yin Body, most people would have frozen just by standing near her, so such intimacy was rare.
‘Han Seol-bi of the Cold Blood Han family.’
The name sounded familiar, as if he had heard it somewhere before.
“Ah, yes, yes. But sister, where did you find this handsome captain? There’s no way I would have missed a face like that!”
Her eyes twinkled. As Han Seol-bi tried to lean in closer to Hyeok Ryeon-yeom—
Snatch!
“Huh?!”
Seol Yerin grabbed Han Seol-bi by the collar and pulled her back.
“My father brought him.”
“…The Palace Lord did?”
Upon hearing that Seol Baek-ho, the Ice Emperor himself, had personally brought him, Han Seol-bi’s curiosity about Hyeok Ryeon-yeom only grew. As they walked, Han Seol-bi continued to steal glances at him while staying by Seol Yerin’s side.
“By the way, what brings you to the main palace?” Yerin asked.
“Oh, I came with my father.”
“The Family Head… has entered the palace?”
“Haven’t you heard? A summoning order has been issued for the Five Great Families.”
Seol Yerin’s expression hardened at the mention of a summoning order. It was the first time the Five Great Families had been called together since the day her Extreme Yin Body was publicly announced.
“I’m sorry, Captain. It seems I must head to the Palace Lord’s Hall instead of my own residence.”
“Ah, I wouldn’t exactly recommend that right now,” Han Seol-bi interjected.
“Why?”
“Everyone seems to be in a rather foul mood….”
“Then I have all the more reason to go.”
Seol Yerin thought to herself: if her father, Seol Baek-ho, hadn't been so consumed with trying to save her, the Ice Palace might have flourished much more than it had.
Because of that—
‘I must shoulder part of the responsibility.’
“Captain of the Little Snow Unit.”
“Yes, Young Palace Lord.”
“Lead the way.”
“Understood.”
Hyeok Ryeon-yeom and the Little Snow Unit surrounded Seol Yerin and Han Seol-bi, escorting them toward the Palace Lord’s Hall. Watching this, the Sword Venerable and the Demon Empress both chimed in.
- What a filial daughter! Truly a filial daughter!
- Yeom-ah, you should help her! Your partner looks like she’s going through a lot right now!
He had intended to go anyway. If he planned to become the matrilocal son-in-law of the Ice Palace, he needed to make an impression on the heads of the Five Great Families.
North Sea Ice Palace, Palace Lord’s Hall.
The four Family Heads were gathered in the large conference room.
“Just when is the Palace Lord planning to show up?”
Gwak Un-cheol, the head of the Snow Tiger Gwak family, huffed, his large frame draped in tiger pelts.
“Calm yourself. Your lack of patience has always been your problem,” Baek Il-sang, head of the Ice Wolf Baek family, rebuked him.
“What did you say?!”
“I’m saying you shouldn’t cause such a scene when even the head of the Jang family has shown his face after all this time.”
Jang Un-seong, the head of the Guardian Jang family, who was dressed in the most modest attire of the group, furrowed his brows.
“Under normal circumstances, I wouldn’t be associating with the likes of you.”
“Everyone is as charming as ever, I see.”
Han Myeong-gwang, head of the Cold Blood Han family, let out a weary sigh. It was clear that the four Family Heads did not get along particularly well.
At that moment—
“And you are all as noisy as ever.”
Seol Baek-ho, the head of the North Wind Snow family and the Lord of the North Sea Ice Palace, appeared in the hall.
“We greet the Palace Lord.”
Though it was a mere formality, the Family Heads offered their greetings.
“Forgive my tardiness. Some preparations were required.”
Flutter—
Unlike his usual self, Seol Baek-ho entered the room wearing the formal regalia that symbolized the Ice Emperor. The sight of him even wearing his sword caused the Family Heads’ expressions to stiffen.
“…I wondered why we were called, but it seems the matter is grave.”
Even the usually boisterous Gwak Un-cheol fell silent upon seeing Seol Baek-ho’s appearance.
“It seems the Young Palace Lord has truly recovered. You look like the Palace Lord of old again,” Jang Un-seong remarked in admiration.
Baek Il-sang asked, “It looks as though you are heading off to war, Palace Lord.”
“That is because I am.”
“Pardon?”
“I have received intelligence that there is a traitor within the palace.”
The Family Heads flinched, their expressions shifting instantly.
“A traitor, you say…?”
“There are those who seek to kill Yerin. Furthermore, they attempted to assassinate the representatives of the merchant group brought from the Central Plains to trade our Cold Iron—the Ice Palace’s primary export. They went so far as to hire assassins from the Blood Moon.”
“The Young Palace Lord left the palace?”
“They hired Blood Moon assassins?”
“So, what happened?”
The Family Heads’ attitudes shifted the moment the Young Palace Lord was mentioned.
“The Little Snow Unit eliminated every single one of the Blood Moon assassins.”
At Seol Baek-ho’s words, the Family Heads looked at one another. They realized who had likely suggested that the traitor needed to be rooted out.
“So, the reason you’ve gathered us like this is because of that Demonic Cult brat you brought in as the Young Palace Lord’s suitor. Is that it?”
As Han Myeong-gwang summarized the situation, Seol Baek-ho’s gaze shifted toward him.
“Family Head Han. Do you believe this Palace Lord is being swayed by the Demonic Cult?”
Han Myeong-gwang froze. The Palace Lord’s attitude was entirely different from before. Such comments were common during family meetings, but the Palace Lord—who had never singled out a specific Family Head before—had changed.
Gulp.
The fighting spirit radiating from Seol Baek-ho was no longer the weakened aura of the past.
“Palace Lord. Family Head Han spoke out of concern; he surely meant nothing else by it. Isn’t that right?”
“Y-yes, that’s correct.”
It was Jang Un-seong who stepped in to save Han Myeong-gwang from the suffocating pressure.
“But Palace Lord, you truly do seem different today,” Gwak Un-cheol noted with a heavy gaze.
“I am. First, I have something to say to the five families.”
A heavy silence descended upon the hall. The Family Heads could not predict what Seol Baek-ho was about to say.
“I acknowledge that I have been negligent in managing the Ice Palace as its Lord. I have called you all here to apologize for that. I am sorry.”
“……?”
“Palace Lord? Is it… is it really you?”
An apology? From the head of the North Wind Snow family and the Lord of the North Sea Ice Palace? The man who had acted autocratically and ignored everything else just to heal Seol Yerin had completely transformed.
“Have you finally realized the state the Ice Palace is in?”
While some looked at Seol Baek-ho with shock, others responded with cold, sharp skepticism. Because Seol Baek-ho had abandoned all other duties to focus on Seol Yerin’s treatment, the Ice Palace had been pushed to the brink.
“I am aware. That is why, from this moment on, I intend to show you a different side of myself.”
“A different side…?”
“But before that, we must root out the traitor.”
Many things were changing.
“…Surely you don’t suspect that the traitor is among us?”
The Family Heads’ eyes fixed on Seol Baek-ho.
“I do not know. Therefore, find them. Rooting out the traitor will be the first step toward making the Ice Palace great once again.”
“Hahaha! Now you finally sound like the Seol Baek-ho of the North Wind Snow family. You’re talking about a bloody purge, aren’t you?”
“Precisely.”
“Then… does that mean we have permission to strike at the Council of Elders?”
Seol Baek-ho nodded at Baek Il-sang’s question. At that, the Family Heads’ eyes gleamed. A war was an opportunity to reshape the power structure of the Five Great Families.
“If it is to root out a traitor.”
“We understand your will, Palace Lord.”
The four Family Heads realized that Seol Baek-ho had drawn his sword. However, a small doubt lingered in their minds.
‘A decision like this couldn’t have been easy.’
They wondered what had prompted such a drastic change. Just as that thought crossed their minds—
“Palace Lord, the Young Palace Lord and the Little Snow Unit have arrived,” a guard’s voice announced.
“The Young Palace Lord?”
“The recovered Young Palace Lord is here?”
“Let them in.”
Every eye in the room turned toward the door.
“Are you sure you’re okay with this?”
“Yes. According to the Captain, the current situation requires me to face the heads of the Five Great Families inside.”
“I suppose so, but….”
“Sister, I really think it’s better if I don’t go in right now,” Han Seol-bi whispered.
“If you don’t want to, you don’t have to follow me.”
Han Seol-bi realized she couldn't break Seol Yerin’s resolve.
“I will assist you.”
More than anything, Han Seol-bi’s gaze kept drifting toward the Captain of the Little Snow Unit standing beside Seol Yerin. Inside, the Family Heads and even the Ice Emperor were waiting. The moment they stepped inside, they would have to face the full weight of their combined gazes, yet the Captain, Hyeok Ryeon-yeom, didn't even blink.
‘How can he be so calm?’
Han Seol-bi, who had zero interest in the Demonic Cult, hadn't realized that the name Hyeok Ryeon-yeom belonged to the Cult Leader’s youngest son. She simply thought he was some martial artist who had been kicked around in the Cult. She was merely curious about how he had ended up as the Captain of the Little Snow Unit protecting Seol Yerin.
“We’re going in.”
“Yes.”
“W-wait for me!”
With a confident stride, the Young Palace Lord led the way, followed by Hyeok Ryeon-yeom and Han Seol-bi. As they entered the meeting hall, a barrage of stares pinned them down.
“Is that… truly the Young Palace Lord?”
“She has… completely recovered.”
“Then the man behind her is….”
“S-Seol-bi?”
Exclamations of surprise erupted from the four Family Heads, excluding Seol Baek-ho.
Clack.
The sound of hands meeting drew everyone’s attention. Hyeok Ryeon-yeom offered a formal fist salute.
“I greet the Palace Lord. I have returned safely to the Ice Palace with the merchant from the Moyong Merchant Group.”
“Yes, you’ve worked hard to get here.”
Seol Baek-ho’s gaze settled on Hyeok Ryeon-yeom.
“Thank you for protecting the Young Palace Lord from the Blood Moon assassins, Captain.”
“Not at all, Palace Lord. I simply did my duty.”
Seeing him receive such blatant recognition from the Palace Lord, the Family Heads began to speak up.
“Palace Lord, I heard you appointed the youngest son of the Heavenly Demon as the Captain of the Little Snow Unit. I wish to know if this is true.”
Han Seol-bi’s eyes went wide at Baek Il-sang’s words. She knew he was from the Demonic Cult, but she hadn't realized he was the Cult Leader’s son.
“And if it is true… what does the Head of the Baek family intend to do about it?”
A voice as clear as a nightingale’s echoed through the hall. Simultaneously—
Whirrrr— Crackle!
A frigid chill began to consume the surroundings. A gaze as cold as frost locked onto Baek Il-sang.
“Haha, Young Palace Lord, it seems there’s been a misunderstanding.”
Baek Il-sang’s complexion paled visibly under the overwhelming pressure of the Extreme Yin Qi.
“Young Palace Lord.”
At that moment, Hyeok Ryeon-yeom called out to her.
Whoosh!
The Extreme Yin Qi was retracted in an instant.
‘She’s a monster.’
‘She seems… even stronger than before.’
‘He actually restrained the Young Palace Lord.’
‘Seol-bi…!’
While the Family Heads were lost in their own thoughts regarding Seol Yerin’s display of power, Hyeok Ryeon-yeom spoke.
“Why did you call me?” Yerin asked.
“I wish to formally introduce myself to the Family Heads. Will you permit it?”
Since they were in a public setting, Hyeok Ryeon-yeom addressed Seol Yerin with the utmost formality. Seol Yerin’s eyes narrowed as she looked at him.
‘……?’
Hyeok Ryeon-yeom found her gaze puzzling, but she eventually spoke.
“Do as you wish.”
Seeing her take a step back, he stepped forward.
“I offer my greetings to the esteemed Family Heads of the Ice Palace. My name is Hyeok Ryeon-yeom. Until recently, I was known as the youngest son of the Heavenly Demon, and I currently serve as the Captain of the Little Snow Unit. And…”
Fwoosh!
Flames began to erupt from Hyeok Ryeon-yeom’s entire body. The moment an intense heat, the polar opposite of the previous chill, flooded the hall, he continued.
“I am the matrilocal son-in-law who is set to wed the Young Palace Lord.”
“……!”
“M-matrilocal son-in-law?!”
Han Seol-bi, who had been listening from the very back, let out a scream of pure shock.